Do You Want Some Straight Talk from a Prolific and Productive Writer?
You have everything you need to create your own universe on Medium!
Before we get started, allow me to clarify who I am and who I am not. I don’t want anyone leaving this page with a false impression of who they think I am.
I also don’t want readers — especially new writers — to leave this story with anymore false impressions about what it takes to really and truly succeed on this platform.
So if you’re ready to hear some straight talk, then be sure to take your time reading and enjoying this story.
If you have an open and truly creative mind, you’ll be receptive to what I’m about to share, and hopefully go away realizing that you hold the key to unlock your very own universe, right here on Medium.
Shall we proceed…?
Who is Justiss Goode?
Justiss Goode is a prolific and productive writer on Medium, with nearly 600 published stories (to date). That’s the abbreviated version of who I am.
On just about every opportunity I get, I make it known that I’m a prolific Medium writer. Why do I do that?
STRAIGHT TALK: I let people know I’m a prolific AND productive writer for three reasons.
- Because I believe that somehow, Google is always listening, so I keep saying it, so they’ll keep saying it also.
- I let people know I’m a prolific AND productive writer because it shows my credibility when it comes to whatever I’m about to share with them; if it’s something that relates to online writing.
- I let people know I’m a prolific AND productive writer because it’s true!
Now let me tell you…
Who I’m NOT
I’m not a top writer on Medium, certainly not if we’re talking earning wise. I barely make it over the $100 thresh hold each month (although I have no doubt that things will eventually change for the better).
I’m not currently a top writer for any particular category or tag, although I briefly had that designation on multiple occasions for at least two different tags. That bit of short-lived fame lasted long enough for me to forget what the tags were (I think they were Writers on Medium, and This Happened to Me).
And finally, on my list of who I’m not; I’m not the kind of writer who believes that writing online for decades and learning how to stumble your way around the internet has earned me the right to tear lesser or newer writers down.
I don’t claim to know all the answers. Hell, I don’t even know all the questions. So I’m not telling anyone what activities are and are not mandatory.
I may not know a lot about what works, but I sure as sh*t have been around long enough to know precisely what doesn’t. But even that’s relative, if not subjective. So some things will ultimately come down to: What’s the best fit for you?
STRAIGHT TALK: I made the point about the negative way some writers behave, for a good reason.Whether we talk openly about the problem or not, this practice of belittling or looking down on other people’s writing is a very real and hurtful problem.
But I’m here to tell ANYONE who wants to create their own place here on Medium, to stop listening to that crap. It’s time to start drowning out the negative noises, no matter who or where they’re coming from.
Ask yourself these 3 questions:
- Am I really ready to claim my power and start creating my own universe here on Medium?
- Do I have the courage to be the writer I really want to be, and NOT the writer I think I should be, someone else thinks I should be, or someone tells me to be?
- What is the first step to take in creating my universe on Medium?
Now, let’s talk about the answers, based on views from a prolific writer
Why should I be both prolific AND productive?
I won’t start off with a lie, and allow you to think that you can create a universe, without putting in a little work; okay, a lot of work. That translates into you having to turn into a prolific writer.
Is that you in the image, trying to duck out? If it is, I won’t try to stop you. I thoroughly understand that SOME writers are just not willing (and possibly not able) to put in the required work.
That’s perfectly fine. There’s nothing wrong with recognizing your own limitations, and certainly no shame in it.
So if the idea of becoming a prolific writer with lots of content doesn’t appeal to you, then this information is probably not suited for you.
But before you go, at least make sure you’re aware that being prolific is not something that has to happen quickly, and surely not overnight. Although you will have to establish a pace and stick to it; your pace doesn’t have to match someone else’s. You can simply “do you”.
However, if you still feel that learning how to churn out more content is not beneficial to you, I wish you the best on the rest of your writing journey.
And remember, even if this information is not right for you personally, it’s still valuable to someone, so think about it for a second.
Do any names of other interested writers come to mind?
Power of the three P’s
The rest of us can continue on, while I help you appreciate the importance of being prolific and productive, and how they work hand-in-hand.
But wait — that’s only two P’s. What’s the other one? PUBLICATION!
Get out of your own way and just do it!
It’s a good thing that all the folks who don’t want to put in the work are gone now, because this would have surely sent them running for the hills!
Everything that we’ll discuss from this point forward, is based on the assumption that you will START YOUR OWN PUBLICATION.
When I told you in the subtitle that you have everything you need to create your universe, I meant it; BUT only if you use what’s available to you.
Put whatever preconceived notions you have about “what you have to do” to have your own publication aside. Instead, take the plunge and just start the process. You might just be surprised at how easy and beneficial it all is.
Creating a publication to show people who you are and what you’re capable of is effective. You don’t even have to worry about dealing with other writers and publishing their stories when you first get started (or ever, if you don’t want to).
Although this particular story doesn’t go into details about setting up publications, there’s plenty of helpful tips on how to do it, plus I’m also available to help, if you send me a private note or email.
So as you consider the rest of this story, think about how this information can benefit you. You’ll be able to take these ideas and more, and lay yourself a great foundation for your Medium universe.
Now, about those other two P’s…
Be prolific but also be productive
If you’re pretty savvy (or maybe just nosy and you never miss anything), you may have noticed that I keep emphasizing the words “prolific AND productive”.
That’s because it’s not enough to just be a prolific writer, not if you want to create your own universe on Medium and operate on your own terms (for the most part).
STRAIGHT TALK: You will absolutely want to start being more productive, as well as learning to be prolific. Consider it for a moment.
Suppose you were merely a prolific writer, who wrote multiple stories everyday, but you never actually got around to publishing anything.
Would you really consider that as being productive?
In fact, suppose you’ve been writing stories for years, yet they remain on your computer, somewhere in a dead file, or maybe even in an actual file case, tucked away in the back of the garage. Still not productive, right? Right.
That just goes to show that writing prolifically does not automatically translate into being productive.
On the other hand, you can be a productive writer while you’re working on being more prolific. So although your writing output might be low while you’re learning to adjust to a new pace, your productivity can still be attainable.
Therefore, there’s absolutely no excuse for you not to be productive everyday, even if you can’t be prolific every day.
If that sounded kind of harsh, I can’t even apologize, because it’s absolutely true.
- It doesn’t matter that you have another real job, or what kind of lifestyle you lead.
- It doesn’t matter that you have a houseful of kids, a ton of pets, and a non-supportive mate or spouse.
This is about YOUR dream. Is your desired goal really and truly to create your own world on Medium? Then you need to be taking at least one step closer to that goal every single day.
No ifs ands or buts.
Before you start freaking yourself out, thinking that you’re not able to write every single day, stop and take a breath.
I didn’t say you had to WRITE every single day. Remember, who I’m not. Sure, there are some expert and top writers who believe you need to write everyday, and they’re entitled to that opinion. But personally, I find that when I’m filling all of my days up with writing, it’’s because I’m actually obsessing, which is not a good thing.
Stop making assumptions that are counterproductive to what you’re trying to achieve. I’m prolific as hell, but I don’t even write every single day; and if I do, and go for too long at a ridiculous pace, then I end up burning out!
So no — I’m not saying you have to write everyday, in order to accomplish something productive towards your writing goal. That’s a decision you have to make for yourself.
What I am saying, is that there are tons of writing related activities to help you get closer to creating a unique online universe, and they don’t all involve actually writing.
For instance, notice the following example of something I recently did myself.
Do you want to know the kinds of productive things you can do during the course of your day, to help enhance your own universe on Medium? Let me give you the main ingredient to figuring that out for yourself.
STRAIGHT TALK: Imagination! Use it, and use it a lot. If you’re one of those confused people who believe you have no imagination, think again. You have one; you probably just haven’t learned how to tap into it, but you sure as hell better learn!
Here’s the way you start learning how to do that.
If your schedule, or daily routine doesn’t allow you the time and freedom to stop and write (no matter the method or media), then do something else, that does fit into your routine.
For instance:
Most of us have a cell phone that we can whip out and take a photo with, regardless of how busy our day may be. So maybe there’s something worthwhile you could be taking snapshots of, during the course of your day.
You can use the photos later, and come up with something creative to write about them later, once you have time to actually write a story.
Use your imagination and trust your creative eye while taking snapshots. If you do, you’ll be especially inspired to write about the photos. This happened to me, and I ended up writing the following story:
While my intent was to showcase the photos I took in a story, and let it end there, once my imagination kicked in, I came up with the idea to take things a step further; thus the above-mentioned “challenge”.
So don’t be afraid to let your imagination take over, even when you’re not sitting in front of your computer screen or writing on your tablet or phone.
Notice what can happen if you do, but first…
😄 QUICK TIP: If you need to stop reading and FINISH later, be sure to click the little “list” icon (at the top — next to the three dots).
You Have Everything it Takes if You Just Use it!
Did you like the idea I shared above about taking photos and creating a story? As you can see, it’s just a simple little action that doesn’t take any time at all. You can get in the habit of doing this, just to stir your imagination like crazy!
Besides the fun photo challenge I wrote about, here are a few more recent ideas I was able to implement, thanks to tapping into my imagination.
- Just List It! MASTER DIRECTORY for Your Story Lists (Ongoing Story promotion)
- Which Story Layout is More Appealing to Readers? (Special Reader Survey)
- My Bright Idea How to Promote Medium Writers Who Use QUORA (Ongoing Writer promotion)
- “What I Read this Week” (Weekly Publication feature)
Not only did I come up with all these creative ideas while I was “off the clock”, but I even figured out a way to help me keep track of what I’m offering, so I can follow through in a timely manner (super important).
My brand new:
“Everything Goode” All Writer Requests & Submission Page
is the bomb!
It’s convenient not just for me, but for the writers who go there to participate and take part of whatever promotion is going on.
During my open calls for submissions, writers can also go there to request to submit stories to whatever publications I’m accepting writers for.
Are you starting to see now, just how much control and leeway you can have with a publication on Medium?
Whatever you do, don’t stand in your own way, and prevent yourself from expanding your horizons. I have plenty of helpful tips about Medium publications, so browse through my list of stories all about publications.
Be your authentic self and you will always stand out
The standard way of doing things is not meant to be taken as laws written in stone. The basics serve as a guide, to help you lay a proper and solid foundation.
There’s nothing wrong with learning and understanding certain fundamentals of writing, but things are constantly changing.
STRAIGHT TALK: Your creativity, uniqueness, and imagination are all subjective, so there is no wrong way to do you.
You don’t have to constantly stick with the same way of doing things, just because you learned it that way.
Once you have the hang of how to perform all the necessary things you need to accomplish a particular purpose, then it will become easier for you to modify and make adjustments, tailored specifically to you.
When you allow your authentic self to dominate your writing life, you’ll begin to see your Medium universe really take form.
Expect to be noticed more, and be ready for it when you do. Once you have their attention, don’t waste the opportunity to show off who you are and what you’re capable.
Be ready to offer something interesting, entertaining, or informative, and if possible, something of value (in some fashion or form).
Another thing you will need to be ready for, is the possibility that not everyone is going to be receptive to who your authentic self may be, and that’s totally fine.
Just remember that your universe is not for everyone!
Don’t worry about trying to be visible and shine for everyone on Medium. Just stick to shining for those who actually see and appreciate you. It’s your world and your rules, so set your own pace, but be diligent about sticking to it.
All of these things are doable, if you keep in mind that this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, and even the slowest participant can be a winner.
Now, consider some more straight talk, and this crucial list of DON’Ts that you need to remember.
STRAIGHT TALK:
- You don’t need everyone to follow and read your work, you only need enough.
- You don’t need anyone else’s approval of what you write, or how you write it, you only need their attention.
- You don’t have to format or lay your story out the same boring way as everyone else.
- You don’t have to limit yourself to one or maybe two images because that’s what everyone else does.
- You don’t have to be like everyone else and use the words “final thoughts” or “takeaway” to indicate you’ve reached the end of your story. You can get creative and consistently use something else.
Always recognize that you can use your imagination and creativity to create and establish whatever patterns and routines you choose. This is how you “brand” yourself.
For instance, once I stopped worrying about being curated, I began using a method of selecting one word in my title to capitalize entirely.
I’m sure many of my followers noticed it, and eventually began associating the practice with me and my writing. I don’t do it all the time, but I like doing it, because I feel like it’s “my thing”.
It’s true that with regard to formatting stories, and performing tasks in a non-traditional way, you have to be mindful that it’s a two-edged sword.
While people love new, different, unique, and even quirky and bizarre, they also like sameness and familiarity. Believe me, it’s a tough beam to balance, but if you can manage it, it’s worth it.
- So stop trying to be so “just right”
- Learn to follow the rules, but dare to color outside the lines
- Don’t be afraid to mess up or get things wrong
Well, that pretty much wraps up all that I wanted to say on the matter, so in case you didn’t realize it, this is the conclusion — aka: the “takeaway” that consists of my “final thoughts”.
As you can see, just like I mentioned in one of the above paragraphs, you can get creative when you provide the last comments that bring your story to an end.
In fact, that goes for any useful details provided directly after your story (affectionately referred to as the footer).
Be committed to recognizing the power of the three P’s, and don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by the idea of starting a publication.
If you try to ignore this all important step, your universe won’t end up with the same kind of stability.
So keep these and other noteworthy points that were brought out in the story in mind, and refer to them as often as you need to.
- Your footer can be creatively different and unique to you, just like other elements of your stories and publications
- Take advantage of the eyeballs that come from attention grabbing story and publication features, by offering the readers a beneficial reason to stop and look.
- As you display your authentic self, don’t expect every reader to understand or “get you”, and don’t attempt to compromise yourself when they don’t truly see who you are.
- Continue to recognize that falling in line and being like every other writer will only keep you invisible and unable to shine.
- Remind yourself every day, that you’re building an empire of stories that are stepping stones to being a prolific and productive writer. So set a pace that’s right for you, but stay on a steady path.
- Create a welcoming universe where readers can feel appreciated, but don’t allow others to dictate the terms of YOUR WORLD.
The trick to learning how to create your own little universe on Medium, is to be your authentic self, even if it means you’re not perfect, because guess what? You’re not! And the great thing is, when you run your own universe, you don’t even have to be.
Not a Medium Member yet? Join now with my referral link. I’ll earn a few bucks when you do, https://justissgoode.medium.com/membership plus I can HELP YOU START EARNING MONEY TOO! 😄
